Roland B. Olcott

AIKEN – Mr. Roland Baars Olcott, 85, of Aiken, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. A memorial service for Mr. Olcott will be held on Monday, March 2, 2014 at St. John's United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Tim McClendon and the Reverend Ray Litts officiating. The family will receive friends in Ward Hall following the service. A private internment will held in Historic Bethany Cemetery A native of Prairie du Sac, WI, and resident of Aiken since 1953, Mr. Olcott was a son of the late Orville Abby Olcott and Helen Baars Olcott. He was a loyal and loving son, brother, husband, father and grandparent. Throughout his life, Mr. Olcott dedicated his time to learning and developing new ideas. He grew up helping operate a dairy farm, and was one of the first in his family to earn a degree from the University of Wisconsin. He spent his professional career as a mechanical engineer, first working for E.I. DuPont at the Savannah River Plant and later founding and operating Machine Development Corporation, in Greenville, SC, with his brother Tyler. After marrying Peggie in 1962, he delighted in caring for his family. Boating, diving, long walks, chess, classical music, and tinkering with sports cars were some of his pastimes. In recent years, Mr. Olcott was pleased to become an integral part of the lives of his triplet granddaughters. Mr. Olcott is survived by his daughter, Tracey (Van) Smith ; Aiken; three grandchildren, Jessica, Abigail and Madelyn Smith; a brother, Perry (Vivian) Olcott, Hilton Head, SC; a brother in law, Don (Linda) Smith, N. Augusta, SC; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Peggie Smith Olcott, and two brothers, Arnold Olcott and Tyler Olcott. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Johns United Methodist Church Building Fund, 104 Newberry St, Aiken, SC 29801 or Mead Hall Episcopal School, 619 Barnwell Ave NW, Aiken, SC 29801. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC Mr. Olcott’s online guest book may be signed by visiting www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roland B. Olcott, please visit our flower store.